Above from left (back row): Linda Kavanagh, Abortion Rights Campaign (ARC spokesperson, Steph Hanlon, Choice and Equality Network, Bulelani Mfaco, of the  Movement of Asylum Seekers Ireland (MASI) and front row, from left: Mara Clarke, Abortion Support Network (ASN) and Danielle Roberts, Alliance for Choice Belfast

This afternoon.

Buswell’s Hotel, Dublin 2.

Pro-choice activists held a media conference to release details of this Saturday’s 8th Annual March for Choice, including this year’s theme: No One Left Behind.

March For Choice (Abortion Rights Campaign)

Earlier: Meanwhile, Opposite Holles Street

Oh.

This afternoon.

Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin 2.

Research Professor Kieran McQuinn speaking at the Economic and Social Research Institute (ERSI) media briefing on the quarterly economic commentary, Autumn 2019 confirming a Brexit-related ‘slowdown’ in the ‘underlying economy’.

More as we get it.

ESRI

Sam Boal/Rollingnews

Last night.

Dubray Books on Grafton Street, Dublin 2.

Senator Michael McDowell (top right) launched In Deep Water: How People, Politics And Protests Sank Irish Water by Sunday Business Post journalist Michael Brennan (top left).

In Deep Water (Mercier Press)

Pics: Senator McDowell

Here’s How.

The current affairs podcast presented by William Campbell (right) looks at the controversy surrounding the Public Service Card.

William writes

Can the government just disregard findings of the Data Protection Commission because they claim to have different legal advice?

I ask data protection expert Dr Katherine O’Keefe (above left) of data consultancy Castlebridge. Our discussion refers to a twitter thread by Katherine and another by solicitor Simon McGarr.

Listen here

Here’s How

Earlier: I Am Not A Number, I Am A Free Man

 

Animated by Remus & Kiki and narrated by Adrian Dannatt, Alex Gendler’s Ted-Ed lesson explores the origins of a game dating back to 7th century India.

Maybe ever earlier. I’d have to check, mate.

awesomer

Behold: sand dunes defrosting near the north pole of Mars last May, pictured by the ESA’s ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter. To wit:

The carbon dioxide and water ice actually sublime in the thin atmosphere directly to gas. Thinner regions of ice typically defrost first revealing sand whose darkness soaks in sunlight and accelerates the thaw. The process might even involve sandy jets exploding through the thinning ice. By Summer, spots will expand to encompass the entire dunes. The Martian North Pole is ringed by many similar fields of barchan sand dunes, whose strange, smooth arcs are shaped by persistent Martian winds.

(Image: ESA, Roscosmos, CaSSIS)

apod

Earlier.

House of Commons.

“Denying the electorate the chance of having its say this Parliament is a dead Parliament. It has no moral right to sit on these green benches.

Twice they have been asked to let the electorate decide whether they should sit in their seats while they block 17.4 million votes, this Parliament is a disgrace.”

British Attorney General Geoffrey Cox speaking a day after after the UK Supreme Court ruled Boris Johnson’s decision to prorogue Parliament for five weeks was unlawful.

Alternatively….

“For a man like him, a party like this, and a leader like this to talk about morals and morality is a disgrace!”

Labour MP Barry Sheerman responds.

Boris Johnson will attempt to force through General Election for third time, Geoffrey Cox indicates, as he accuses MPs of ‘cowardice’ (Telegraph)

Sinead O’Riordan – Flavoured Lights

We’re going to Vegas, baby!

The sense of excitement at heading off to enjoy all the fun of the fair in Sin City is palpable in newcomer Sinead’s delicious pop souffle.

Special mention to the excellent videography by Susi Piasek which will make you want to set the controls for the beating heart of the Nevada desert.

Flavoured Lights can be found on Sinead’s imminent debut 5-song EP Forbidden You.

Nick says: Heaven or Las Vegas.

Sinead O’Riordan

From top: High tea with the Great British Bake-Off presenters, from left: Prue Leith, Noel Fielding, Sandi Toksvig, and Paul Hollywood; Vanessa Foran

Last night.

Great British Bake-Off viewers were transported back to the roaring 1920s in the fifth episode of the Channel 4 series.

Vanessa Foran writes:

I loved the theme especially the idea of a Cocktail Cake, but to the veteran Bake Offender and Hollywood watchers the ending was predictable from early on; the Hollywood’s facial expressions pretty much gave the game away anyway.

But the brilliance of Bake- Off is that sometimes even knowing the ending doesn’t matter, and it certainly didn’t ruin Roaring Twenties’ night for me.

Like last week I’m opening with the ending.

The moment Helena said lavender I could feel the Hollywood’s eye roll so didn’t really need his this isn’t going to end well smirk as he moved on to know how he really felt.

Serious contenders for this competition would know by now Paul Hollywood has no grá for lavender.  (He’d be right at home in my house; I can’t stand it either.  It smells nice in the garden tho’.)

The only thing that could save Helena after that was a showstopper to make him forget she put soapy custard in front of him the day before.

Now I have stood by Helena up to now, but in the end she just took the Halloween shtick too far.  By last night it was silly, sloppy and childish.

But worse again, she ignored the task and snubbed the theme of the week, so she had to go.

Over the years of this series people, and especially rejected bakers, read too much into the Technical, but they only count when it’s a close call; I suppose you could call them the photo finish of the Bake-Off Tent.

And last night’s, ah here Technical, Prue’s fried choux balls pretty much had the batens’ of everyone, so I knew it would be the double elimination show.

I know choux makes a fool out me all the time.  But in all fairness, how could a sauce with three ingredients – one of them liquor get so badly mangled.

I am not surprised to see Michelle go either since all parts of her weekend were Depression-era stuff.

Steph’s has been my champion since week one, and when I saw that razor thin pastry last night I knew she was on the Star Baker short list again.

Even though it was David who got the Handshake last night; I’m still not convinced but I do like his recipe and they were Flappertastic looking; too good looking to eat maybe.

So that’s two HH’s and we’re halfway through so they must mean something and I’ll never question or doubt Paul Hollywood.

All through the show Michael looked in need of an assistance animal or something to relieve his anxiety.  Star Baker in Bread week and the first Handshake of the season ffs, he needs to get a grip on himself now if he’s to do himself any justice.

His baking is definitely final level stuff.  And last night, now I tried to get video it from the telly but I made a mickey of it, but when he introduced his signature Lime and Mango tarts the Hollywood was visibly smacking his lips.

See Helena, Michael did his homework, Lime is one of the Hollywood’s favourites.

And so did Steph – I am totally drooling over her Lime sponge Showstopper and totally deserved a Handshake.

Her recipe says it needs skill, but that really only applies to the decoration; and shur’ since when do we decorate to match the picture on the recipe?

Henry the tie man and Pirya are still in it, so them surviving last week was no fluke.

And a back-to-back for my shout out Steph Star Baker was well deserved last night, I really saw no other contender after David’s showstopper sagged.

Dr Rosie went to great lengths with her Impressive Domes, went one further by showing tribute to what custard pies are more known for, slapstick splat.

So much for my earlier reservations as she showed some real class in both her signature and her showstopper, so much so I was really hoping to have her White Russian Cocktail Cake recipe for ye today.

That’s it folks, if ye’re up to it lets hear what your own Cocktail Cake would be, and in the meantime Tip of the Week: ‘water’ spray on the drizzle, thank you Henry.

Next week: Desserts, or as gaeilge, Afters, so till then; BAKE! 

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